Apparently IBM finally recognizes Google's Android OS as a viable platform, good enough to create a Lotus Notes app for it. Windows Mobile, iPhone and Nokia's Symbian S60 handsets already have their own version of IBM's Lotus Notes Traveler.According to ZDNet UK, IBM announced at its Lotusphere conference in Florida that they will release a secure Lotus Notes client for Android devices. The app will be free to download, but you'll have to buy the Lotus Domino server software in order for the app to work.
The mail, calendar and contacts app will run on handsets with Android 2.0 and higher (sorry Android 1.6 and 1.5 users), and will be the second major secure email platform outed for Google's free mobile OS. Back in December 2009, Good Technology launched an email client that isolates and encrypts sensitive data on Android-powered phones.
So far there's no word from IBM on the specific features of Lotus Notes Traveler for Google's open-sourced mobile OS or when the Android email app will be made available. Will you get it when it comes out? Let us know in the comments.

As we already know, SK Telecom announced their first Android 2.0 smartphone, the MOTOROI in South Korea just a few days ago. But they also want to introduce more Android-powered handsets in 2010 to the Korean market, 13 of them to be exact.
SK Telecom is already the largest mobile carrier in South Korea, but rival KT launched the iPhone since November 28th with over 240,000 units sold since then. So now, according to Ha Sung-min president of SK Telecom's mobile network operator unit, they will go all out with Google's free mobile OS.

SK Telecom will sell over 2 million smartphones in the local market by the end of this year by focusing on models based on Google's Android operating system. We will have 25 smartphone line-ups in 2013, or 40 percent of our total handset offerings, mostly equipped with the Google OS.
It's clear that SK Telecom will drive Android phones as consumers have greater preferences for phones providing a high accessibility toward Web-surfing and other multimedia contents. In that perception, Google's mobile services are qualified.

So as you can see, Korean people also demand more Android-based smartphones, and SK Telecom plans to oblige. If only the Chinese government listen to their people's demands too, and didn't push Google out of their country.

Last week we told you that Gigabyte Technology and AboCom Systems were negotiating with Vibo Telecom to produce an Android-based smartphone. Apparently they already have one ready to be release on the Russian market as early as next month.
As we mentioned before, Gigabyte Technology has been successful with their GSmart series running Windows Mobile, but now they - as many other manufacturers - want to jump on the Android bandwagon. Their first Android-powered phone doesn’t have a name yet, but as you can see on the image above, it will be one of the GSmart series handsets.
According to Mobile-review, the new handset runs Android 1.6, measures 103 x 54 x 13.4 millimeters, and it comes with a trackball, G-Sensor, and 3.5 mm audio jack. The price is rumored to be around 9000 rubles (€214 or $303) which isn't bad, unfortunately the device comes with such a small display compared to other Android handsets in the market.
More Specs for Gigabyte’s first Android:
• EDGE / GPRS / GSM 900/1800 MHz
• Processor: Qualcomm ESM7225 528 MHz
• Memory: 256 MB RAM / ROM 512 MB
• Screen: 2.8 "QVGA
• Built-in GPS / AGPS
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Memory card: microSD
• Connector microUSB (Charging / Active Sync)
• Battery 1500 mAh
• Camera 2.0 megapixel with autofocus

Yes, we know the Google Nexus One has been the shiny star of several unboxing stories since December of last year. But believe me when I say this is not just any unboxing, it is actually by far one of the best I’ve ever seen in my life.
We all know how deep emotions run through us when we are about to get our hands on a brand new gadget. Apparently, that is the case with these three ninjas. As you will see on the stop-action video - which by the way was sponsored by Google - below, three tiny ninjas fight over the Google Nexus One phone after unboxing it.
Unboxing is just a mild word, these tiny ninjas actually destroyed the box where the Android handset was. Next, they begin to reveal some of the accessories and the smartphone itself. But don't let me spoil the fun, just watch the clip and let us know what you think about it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ETSvTAo4A&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

By now, chances are you already enjoyed those 3 video ads from Korea about the MOTOROI by Motorola. If you like Korea's first Android 2.0 handset, then you might be happy to know that it is coming to America sooner rather then later.
According to the Korea Herald, there's a great chance that Motorola's new Android handset will make it to the US. First hint came from Rick Wolochatiuk, president and representative director of Motorola Korea, who said: "The product will be launched in other markets around the world."
Also, at a press conference Bae Joon-dong Senior Vice President of SK Telecom said: "The MOTOROI is a different model from the Droid, (Motorola's Android smartphone launched in the United States), and it will be launched in the United States around March". So what do you think, would you wait until March to get this handset?

As we all know, the Android-powered Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 handset is getting ready to be launch by the second quarter of this year in Canada. But what many of you didn't know is that some of those who get this SE handset in Europe will enjoy 3D satellite maps.
The folks over at Ericsson Labs have uploaded a video demonstration of their new 3D Landscape API running on the Android-based Xperia X10 phone. According to them, "The SDK libraries uses unique maps in 3D and fast methods for rendering the maps which makes it possible to show realtime 3D maps in high quality."
They also said, "the maps for the SDKs are downloaded from a backend server and buffered in the mobile as needed." For now, only Stockholm - capital and the largest city of Sweden - are able to enjoy a limited set of maps. But the guys from Ericsson Labs promised to add more later.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGrwkyWIDOE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Like many of us, our friend djunio is keeping an eye on the MOTOROI Android-powered handset made by Motorola. So you might enjoy the three video ads we have about this new device at the end of this post, even though they are in Korean.
Motorola’s first Android 2.0 device for the Korean market shows some basic phone capabilities on the first video. And if you were wondering on how to pronounce the name (MOTOROI) of this handset, well, just pay attention to the clips and you will find out.
On the second clip you will see some of the 8-megapixel camera functions been demonstrated, and the third video shows you how to use the 720p HD video recording capability. As you can see, Motorola’s social networking integration system better known as MOTOBLUR is no where to be found on the new MOTOROI.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0QO5UMWd_I&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBitaNAgtMQ&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFjTsqCC6Cg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

As most of you already know, in China anything online the government deems inappropriate gets censored. According to BBC News, after a dispute with the Chinese government over censorship, Google has decided to postponed the launch of 2 Android-powered phones in that country.
A Google spokesperson said the formal launch of the 2 handsets running the Android OS was due to take place on Wednesday, but that's been postponed now. The Chinese government said Google and other foreign firms have to obey the laws and traditions of the country.
All that's going on started when many foreign journalists working in Beijing complained about several cyber attacks. These attacks are believed to target the e-mail accounts of human rights activists. Google said that it would no longer censor search engine results in China, even if this means they have to shut down operations in that country.

At CES 2010 Marvell had on display an Android-based ebook reader named Astri MID, but in this case the MID moniker stands for My Interactive Device, ha, go figure. Anyway, the new device is said to have an unspecified Marvell chipset and is supposed to target the education market.
The Astri MID ereader sports a dual-display (as you can see on the image above), one 5-inch Wacom touchscreen epaper panel on the left and a 4.8-inch WVGA LCD touchscreen on the right. That way you'll be able to read ebooks and other documents on the E Ink panel.
Meanwhile, the other side - 4.8-inch LCD display - can be used for IM, to check emails, or just to access the web with the Android browser. There's no word on pricing or arrival date just yet. Enjoy the video below and don't forget to let us know what you think about this device.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B7cx0OXBD4&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
[Via SlashGear]

We advice you to have the salt shaker ready on this one. As you might remember, Google's Vice President of Engineering Andy Rubin recently talked about Google’s plan for an enterprise version of the Nexus One. Apparently, the Motorola Shadow will be the Nexus Two with a hardware keyboard.
The latest rumors from China say the Motorola Shadow will be the future Google Nexus Two handset (shown above). As you can see, it has a close resemblance to the DROID made by the same manufacturer, just with some modifications.
The handset is believed to have a large 4.3" touchscreen of either 850 x 484 pixels or 854 x 480 pixels, an 8-megapixel camera capable of shooting High Def video and HDMI port. As you can see the QWERTY keyboard is a little different then the DROID's, but remember that this image is just a render and not the real deal. What's your take on this one?
[Thanks darktheory]